Nashville, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder recognize the service and sacrifice of Staff Sergeant Michael Nelson of Antioch. Nelson was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Wheeler Army Airfield in Hawaii. Two 25thAviation Regiment UH-60 Black Hawks were involved in a night time training exercise on August 15 when the flight crews lost contact with each other. Recovery efforts off the coast of Oahu revealed evidence of a crash with no survivors. Nelson was 30 years old.
”Staff Sergeant Nelson was prepared to serve and support others and lost his life while training to do so,” Haslam said. “We extend our condolences and prayers to Michael’s wife, child and siblings.”
Nelson served 11 years in the U.S. Army and enlisted while a resident of Antioch.
“Staff Sergeant Nelson bravely volunteered to serve his country and courageously joined the ranks of Black Hawk crews known for their commitment to support troops on the ground,” Grinder said. “This is a solemn reminder of the dangers our service members face in training as well as combat.”
Nelson is survived by his wife, Brittany Nelson of Kentucky, daughter Gabrielle and his brothers and sisters Delta DeDeaux, Caleb Nelson, Tyre Nelson, Terri Nelson, Tamarra Nelson, Noah Nelson and Taniicka Dobey-McBrien.
The remains of SSG Nelson will arrive at the Nashville International Airport on Tuesday, October 17 at 10:50 a.m. (CDT). Media should be staged at 937-939 Airport Service Road at the Nashville International Airport Air Freight parking lot and should be in place by 10:00 a.m. Media are permitted to videotape the dignified transfer of remains, but no family interviews will be granted.
Visitation will be on Thursday, October 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (CDT) at Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery at 5110 Gallatin Pike S., in Nashville. Media are not permitted inside the chapel and interviews with family members will not be offered.
Graveside services will be held at the Nashville National Cemetery at 1420 Gallatin Pike S., in Madison on Thursday, October 19 at 1:00 p.m. (CDT) directly after the visitation. Media is permitted at the site, but no interviews with family will be offered.
During his time in service, Nelson received two Air Medals, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, NATO Medal, Basic Aviation Badge and Meritorious Unit Citation.
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